Abstract
The frequency of reversible and irreversible visual impairment was determined in children with severe and profound sensorineural deafness, as subnormal vision can adversely affect their educational and social development. Eighty three of 87 such children attending an audiology service were examined to assess the incidence and severity of visual impairment. Each child underwent a detailed ophthalmic assessment. The criteria for visual impairment were visual acuity < 6/9 Snellen or equivalent and/or abnormal binocular vision. Forty five had a normal ophthalmic examination (54.2%). Twenty nine had visual impairment (34.9%) and nine had ophthalmological abnormalities that did not interfere with vision (10.9%). A higher proportion of children with risk factors for visual pathology demonstrated visual impairment than those in whom there were no risk factors. None the less, 44% of visual impairment was among patients without risk factors. The results underline the need to examine all children with severe and profound sensorineural deafness soon after diagnosis and indicate that children with multiple handicaps have a greater likelihood of visual impairment (11 of 14 cases).
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Chaurasia M. K., Geddes N. K. An analysis of the aetiology of early childhood deafness. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci. 1991 Jun;16(3):280–284. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2273.1991.tb00931.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Coleman H. M. An analysis of the visual status of an entire school population. J Am Optom Assoc. 1970 Apr;41(4):341–347. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Fillman R. D., Leguire L. E., Rogers G. L., Bremer D. L., Fellows R. R. Screening for vision problems, including Usher's syndrome, among hearing impaired students. Am Ann Deaf. 1987 Jul;132(3):194–198. doi: 10.1353/aad.2012.0753. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Leguire L. E., Fillman R. D., Fishman D. R., Bremer D. L., Rogers G. L. A prospective study of ocular abnormalities in hearing impaired and deaf students. Ear Nose Throat J. 1992 Dec;71(12):643-6, 651. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Luhr J. P., Dayton K. K. Combining clinical and educational services. Am Ann Deaf. 1971 Dec;116(6):566–568. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mohindra I. Vision profile of deaf children. Am J Optom Physiol Opt. 1976 Aug;53(8):412–419. doi: 10.1097/00006324-197608000-00004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Regenbogen L., Godel V. Ocular deficiencies in deaf children. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 1985 Nov-Dec;22(6):231–233. doi: 10.3928/0191-3913-19851101-07. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rogers G. L., Fillman R. D., Bremer D. L., Leguire L. E. Screening of school-aged hearing impaired children. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 1988 Sep-Oct;25(5):230–232. doi: 10.3928/0191-3913-19880901-07. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- STOCKWELL E. Visual defects in the deaf child. AMA Arch Ophthalmol. 1952 Oct;48(4):428–432. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1952.00920010437005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Suchman R. G. Visual impairment among deaf children. Frequency and educational consequences. Arch Ophthalmol. 1967 Jan;77(1):18–21. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1967.00980020020005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wild N. J., Sheppard S., Smithells R. W., Holzel H., Jones G. Delayed detection of congenital hearing loss in high risk infants. BMJ. 1990 Oct 20;301(6757):903–905. doi: 10.1136/bmj.301.6757.903. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]